Empathy and Party

A comment on my last post gave me pause.

I’m currently massaging a memoir by a successful Texas lawyer.  All goes well until I come to the section where my man starts Tony talking current Texas politics. He’s very partisan, and you can guess which parti he sans.  There is, suddenly, an Elephant in the room.

As I wrestle with my own feelings, I consider a few what-if questions. They involve lines being crossed, free speech, the butterfly effect, and my own professional and moral responsibilities. Call it self-indulgent liberal fluff if it makes you feel better.  

I end on the cop-out (my ex is a moral theologian) of situational ethics. Sorry. I can usually see at least two sides of an issue, and they might all be right.

Stu commented on this post, wondering if Tony reads my social media.  And I got to thinking about a point I didn’t make.

First, I’m nobody much and Tony’s a busy guy.  I doubt he is aware of my wee online presence.  Second, I didn’t trash him hard.  His self-awareness and drive are admirable, and his politics are part and parcel of his upbringing. His prose can be clunky, but so can anybody’s. So can mine.

The point I didn’t get round to making involves the importance of connecting folks like me with folks like Tony.  Getting to know and even appreciate bits and pieces of ‘the other’ is surely the way forward. As I said, Tony’s not a bad guy. That’s far from a ringing endorsement, but it’s something.  And I hope he’d say the same about me.  Empathy leads to a wider consciousness, leads to inclusiveness. Which is how we get along with each other and maybe save the planet from ourselves and AI.

Tony, if you’re reading, here’s to you.